North Fork sees ‘good’ voter turnout

The towns of Crawford and Paonia utilized Delta County's mail ballot election on April 3. Their town halls were open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. to take mail ballots, which were then driven to the county clerk in Delta for counting.

The Town of Hotchkiss was also open from 7-7, but because voters could vote at town hall on that day, the election judges worked an additional three hours counting votes. They had 162 total votes, making it a "good election" according to town clerk Marlene Searle. Normally, Hotchkiss elections draw less than 100 voters. Once the election judges counted the votes, they were driven to the county clerk.

In Hotchkiss, five trustees were elected. Three will serve four-year terms and two will serve two-year terms. Elected by highest vote tallies to four-year terms were incumbent Carrie Wingfield (122 votes), Jim Roberts (116 votes), and, in a tie, Georgia Hopper or incumbent Dustyn Foster (99 votes each) will have the remaining four-year term and the other a two-year term. That will be determined at the April 12 town council meeting by a cut of playing cards. Write-in candidate and incumbent Lindee Cantrell (87 votes) will serve a two-year term.

Candidate Mary Hockenbery received 77 votes, Ralph Sandmann II 60 votes and Jane Wills 41 votes.

Hotchkiss had six write-in candidates—Cantrell, Geraldine Meyers (four votes) and John Marta, Billie Marta, Larry Jakubiak and Dona Leach (each with one vote).

In Crawford, Susie Steckel ran unopposed for mayor and received 83 votes or 79.81 percent of the total vote. Four trustees each with four-year terms were elected—Larry Kontour (78 votes), James Sorensen (60 votes), Wanda Gofforth (57 votes) and incumbent Christie Young (53 votes). James Chandler received 52 votes and Jennifer Ludwig 50 votes.

Crawford voters approved Ballot Question 5B which prohibits the operation and licensing of medical marijuana centers, medical marijuana-infused products manufacturers and optional premises cultivation operations. The vote was 57-45 (55.88 percent versus 44.12 percent) in favor of the ban.

Mayor Neal Schwieterman ran for his second and final full-term as Paonia mayor. He was unopposed and received 308 votes or 79.50 percent. Paonia's four new trustees are Ross King (259 votes), Eric Goold (252 votes), Amber Kleinman (251 votes) and Larry Wissbeck (249 votes).

Of the other Paonia candidates who ran, Bill Powers received 222 votes and Karen Fogg received 132 votes.

Crawford's new mayor and trustee were sworn in the day after the election. Paonia's newly elected officials will be sworn in on April 10 and Hotchkiss trustees on April 12.

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